Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Audiobook by J.K. Rowling

5/5 STARS

Genre: Children’s Fiction, Fantasy
Author: J. K. Rowling
Published: July 1998
Publisher: Pottermore (audiobook)
Length: 10 hours

Originally posted on Goodreads

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Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing

This was obviously amazing – I can’t believe how much fun this was to re-read in audiobook format, nor how much of the story I’d forgotten! Harry Potter is honest to goodness just the most brilliant series ever.

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The Chamber of Secrets

This book seems to get the worst rap compared to the other books in the series. I don’t understand why – everyone claims it to be their least favourite book, but honestly, this book had me cracking up every second page and the story in general is fabulous.

Lockhart is a brilliant character in this book because of how he is a complete idiot, but can’t we all agree that he absolutely brings out McGonigle’s best side? Is she ever more sassy than the moments when Lockhart speaks? I think not (okay, she is quite sassy on a number of other occasions, but still).

I enjoyed this immensely. I love the plot as it winds around and you point fingers at everyone trying to work out who the heir of Slytherin is. I love Hagrid in this book. I love how Harry is in the wrong place at the wrong time every time. And I love Filch. Bless him.

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The Trio

Harry, Ron and Hermione are as amazing as ever in this book and I love them to death. I think there are so many things that upon re-reading this story I realised I loved more in the book. Ginny’s character is the one that suffers the most in the movies, but also just the dynamics between Harry, Ron and Hermione – they’re so different and more alive and logical in many occasions. And Harry is ten times sassier in the books, that’s a fact.

But honestly, characters and friends just don’t get any better than these three in books. I love them so much and it makes me sad all over again that our adventures with them are well and truly over. Thank goodness for re-reading. Having left it so long to re-read has made some moments feel like they’re completely new and I’m seeing them with fresh eyes which is definitely something special! I just think they work so well together as characters and I can’t get enough of them!

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Audiobooking

The audiobook was phenomenal. I’m not much of an audiobook person, usually, but Stephen Fry does such a great job at narrating this series that I’m completely addicted. It’s so much fun and works wonderfully – not to mention his admirable job of impersonating Ginny sobbing. That will forever be cast in my memory.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan then I can’t recommend trying out the audiobooks enough. They’re not to be missed and it was really cool and unexpected in this book when technology jumps in and they alter Fry’s voice for the basilisk to make it even more creepy.

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Things I Loved and Had Forgotten

There are a scary number of things on this list. So much of the book that was not in the movies I simply do not remember. I’ve never re-read Chamber of Secrets so things such as Nearly Headless Nick’s death-day party were like whaa-?! Also the beautiful layers to Filch’s grumpy character (particularly his insecurity over being a Squib).

Honestly, though, the tension between Ron and Hermione was one of the most notable things for me. Spoiler alert if you haven’t read the whole of this series (really?), but I remember when I first read them thinking Ron and Hermione were the perfect match for each other and was glad that it wasn’t Harry and Hermione. Then after gorging myself on the movies for many years that got confused in my mind and I started to fail to see the plain sense of it. But re-reading these books has reminded me of the palpable tension between them that just works. Harry’s too busy to be with Hermione, that’d just be a disaster. Except for that one time he dances with her in the Deathly Hallows. That was quite nice. Ahem.

Also can we talk about Harry’s whole escape from Privet Drive? The fact that it’s ten times more stressful and the Dursley’s seem even more horrible. The fact that Harry, too, gets set to chores when he arrives at the Weasley’s house AND damn, I really cracked up over the whole de-gnoming of the garden.

Also, also, Fred and George trying to save Harry from that rogue bludger (rather than Hermione blowing it sky high) was beautiful. They treat him so wonderfully like a brother that it makes me want to cry. But oh my lord was that Quidditch match more stressful in the book or what.

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Summary

I could go on about every single aspect about the book and how much I loved it, but I think you get the point. The second book is fabulous and I have endless love for it – I would go as far to say that it’s been my favourite to re-read so far (I’ve re-read up to four . . . so, you know). I can’t recommend re-reading via audiobook with Stephen Fry as the narrator enough, either! It’s simply a must! Make it your mission over this coming Christmas, because isn’t that what you promise yourself that you’ll do anyway?

View all my reviews

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 What did you think of The Chamber of Secrets?

Share your thoughts below!

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~~ Kirstie ~~

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